NEXT BRANCH MEETING 
Sunday, 22 June 2014, at 2:30 pm
John McKinnon, Executive Director, Asia New Zealand Foundation
Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Work With China
John McKinnon was educated at Nelson College, Victoria University of Wellington and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. In May 1974 John McKinnon joined the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was posted to China as a second secretary in 1978, after two years Chinese language training in Hong Kong. On returning to New Zealand in 1980, John McKinnon was assigned to the Asian Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He later worked on secondment with Fletcher Challenge for a year.
His subsequent postings in the diplomatic service were to Washington (1985-1986), Canberra (1986-1990) and New York (1992-1995) – the last as Deputy Permanent Representative during New Zealand’s term on the United Nations Security Council.
In 1995 John McKinnon moved to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as director of the External Assessments Bureau. He was then appointed New Zealand’s Ambassador to China and Mongolia, and was stationed in Beijing from February 2001 to November 2004. He returned to New Zealand as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsible for New Zealand’s relations with Asia and the Americas.
John McKinnon was Secretary of Defence from December 2006 to November 2012. During his time in the role, the New Zealand Government published the Defence White Paper 2010.
In March 2012 John McKinnon was appointed Executive Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, taking up the position on 1 December 2012.
Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, off Hill Street, Thorndon, Wellington (see map)
(Car park up Guildford Tce beside Hall)
Followed by Afternoon Tea, gold coin donation appreciated
ALSO COMING UP THIS MONTH (see below for details)
18 June, 6pm Futures Group Cooking Class
26 June, 7:15pm NZCLA Chinese Film, 101 Wakefield St
2 July, all day NZCCRC Conference China at the Crossroads
11 July, 6pm Futures Group Quiz Night (note change of date and time)
NEW MEMBERS – A warm welcome to Alexander Burns and Charlene Leong.
REPORT FROM LAST MEETING (from Graham Gibbs)
Ms Qian Xiaoyan (professor at the Medical College of Xiamen University), treated participants at the 
Wellington branch meeting in May to a very informative and interactive presentation.
Professor Xiaoyan’s presentation included the clinical principles of Chinese Acupuncture. Members of the audience were invited to participate in a demonstration of the therapy. A number of willing patients came forward and received treatment for pain relief.
Special thanks to the Confucius Institute, Victoria University of Wellington for providing the opportunity to join in hosting a meeting with a difference.
NZCFS FUTURES GROUP SOCIAL MEDIA
The NZCFS Futures Group, driven by the younger members of NZCFS Wellington Branch, has set up a Meetup group and a Facebook page to provide an alternate mechanism for keeping in touch with our younger members. However note that the use of these contemporary social media sites is by no means restricted by age. Further, attendance at the functions so organised is also not restricted in any way. We would recommend that those Members who are comfortable with these social media mechanisms join them and participate. The Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/NZCFSWellington. You do not have to be a Facebook member to view this. The Meetup group is known as Wellington Chinese Culture and can be found at www.meetup.com/Wellington-Chinese-Culture-Meetup/. Once again, you do not have to belong to Meetup to view the events, but you do have to register with Meetup and join the group to be able to signal your intention to attend an event.
NZCFS FUTURES GROUP COOKING CLASS
The New Zealand China Friendship Society (NZCFS) Future’s Group is organising a Chinese cooking class on 18 June 2014 at 6pm. This event is for current members and the wider public, and will be held at a venue in Churton Park. Come along to have fun and learn how to make a meal of pork dumplings, deluxe meat rice and stir-fry vegetables. The cost is only $15 (for ingredients) and transport may be available.
If you are interested, please contact Susie at [email protected] visit the NZCFS Wellington Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NZCFSWellington or email [email protected] for more details.
NZCFS FUTURES GROUP QUIZ NIGHT 11 JULY
The New Zealand China Friendship Society Future’s Group will be holding a quiz night on 11 July 2014 at 6pm. This event is for current members and the wider public, and will be held at the Wellington City Council Committee Room One. There will be a gold coin entrance fee and refreshments will be provided. If you are interested, please visit the NZCFS Wellington Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NZCFSWellington or email [email protected] for more details.
CHINESE FILM 中国电影
Date: Thursday 26 June, 2014 Time: 7.15pm
Venue: Committee Room One, Wellington City Council, 101 Wakefield Street.
Gold coin donation.
7.15pm: 瞧这一家子What a Family (92 minutes, 1979)
Director: 王好为Wang Haowei
Cast: 陈强Chen Qiang, 陈佩斯Chen Peisi，张金玲Zhang Jinling
Released in 1979, this was the first comedy film to be produced in China in two decades. It follows the family quibbles of Lao Hu, a factory worker, his daughter, who is in love with his apprentice, and his son, a frustrated and inept intellectual.
REPORT ON NATIONAL CONFERENCE – HAVELOCK NORTH 23-25 MAY 2014 (from Christine Strickland)
Ten Wellington members were amongst the 92 delegates who attended the Conference, ‘Voices for Youth’ which was a tremendous success. Thank you Hawke’s Bay President Sally Russell and her hardworking members.
A Brainstorming session was held Friday afternoon by members present on how to improve the Society’s goals, led by Ideas Shop contracted to do the recent members’ survey. There were 174 responses and the results will be emailed to members separately. These results and the ‘brainstorming’ report are also available on the Members page of the Website. (Members: please ask your branch secretary for the password.)
On Friday evening Napier Mayor Bill Dalton welcomed visitors who were then entertained by the Hastings Girls’ High School Kapa Haka group.
Saturday morning started with a welcome from Chairperson of Te Runanga o Ngati Kahungunu Trust Ngahiwi Tomoana. Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule then officially opened the Conference, followed by speeches from Ambassador Wang Lutong and President Dave Bromwich.
Ambassador Wang announced that Jayson Zhang, husband of Consul General Tan Xiutian at the Christchurch Consulate, was donating $5000 to NZCFS from sales of his book “The Beauty of New Zealand”. Jayson has asked the National Executive to allocate how this sum is to be used but asked that some of the money be given to Christchurch branch projects.
“Voices of Youth”: Six NZCFS younger members then each gave a short talk on the youth development of their branches and their hopes for the future of the Society. Picture shows National Executive Member Miao Fan introducing (seated from left) Hamish Young and Ken Liu from Auckland, Faye Zhang, Kirk McDowall and Jack Irvine from Wellington and Tony Tian from Christchurch.
NZCFS first Youth intern Charles Rowe from Beijing joined the discussions via Skype.
New Zealand Chinese Language Week, a national initiative to develop awareness of Chinese language and culture, was launched at the Conference on Saturday afternoon by Raymond Huo MP. It was inaugurated by signing of the trust document by Raymond Huo, Ambassador Wang, Pat English and Dave Bromwich. A Trust has been set up and is co-chaired by Raymond and Jo Coughlan, Wellington City Councillor. Other trustees include: Sarah Thomson, founder and president of the Waikato Mandarin Corner group; Professor Neil Quigley, Professor of Economics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington; Patrick English, Executive Director for the New Zealand China Council; and Dave Bromwich, NZCFS National President. NZCLW will most likely take place from 8-14 September. For more information see: nzchinasociety.org.nz/16542/nz-chinese-language-week-is-launched/
In the afternoon, delegates attended a concert by the Hawke’s Bay Youth Orchestra with Chen Xi Yao, one of Hamilton’s members, who is an expert on the gu-zheng. Chen composed a piece called “The River” for the gu-zheng in honour of the Society’s Honorary Patron, Mr Simon Deng Li.
National Executive 2014/2015
At the AGM on Sunday morning those elected unopposed were:
President: Dave Bromwich
Vice Presidents: North Island (Northern): George Andrews, North Island (Central): Bernie Richmond,
South Island: Dave Adamson
Treasurer: Chris Goodwin, Secretary: Heiko lade, Immediate Past President: Eric Livingstone
The successful National Executive Members elected were: Miao Fan (Hamilton), Ken Liu (Auckland), Deborah Rhode (Christchurch), Tony Tian (Christchurch) and Ann White (Timaru).
2015 NZCFS Conference Nelson Branch President Christine Ward announced that Nelson would host the conference next year.
For a full report see nzchinasociety.org.nz/16583/details-of-the-nzcfs-annual-conference-23-25-may-2014/
THE 2014 WELLINGTON CONFERENCE ON CONTEMPORARY CHINA
China at the Crossroads – What the Third Plenum Means for China, New Zealand and the World
2nd July, 2014, Hunter Council Chamber, Victoria University of Wellington
China is at the crossroads. In November 2013 the Communist Party of China held the third full or plenary session of its current central committee, and agreed on a wide-ranging set of policy changes. This Third Plenum has been heralded in China as one of the most critical junctures of national policy-making since China’s reforms began in 1978.
Chinese commentators have emphasised the fact that the 2013 Third Plenum represents a turning point in Chinese policy-making, with its unprecedented emphasis on the ‘decisive’ role of the market and a new, less intrusive role for government.
But some are asking whether the Plenum has gone far enough. Will its decisions truly enable China to overcome the many economic, financial and social difficulties it now faces, and take it to the point where it is an advanced economy and a leading world power? Or will China find the next phase of its development hard to carry out? Either way, what are the Plenum’s implications for New Zealand and its rapidly expanding trade, investment and cooperation with China?
To analyse the Plenum and its policy impact, the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre is bringing together one of the most outstanding groups of specialists on contemporary China ever to gather at a China-related conference in New Zealand. The one-day conference, to be held on 2 July 2014 in the Hunter Building of Victoria University of Wellington, will be essential for anyone with an interest in China’s burgeoning growth and its impact on New Zealand today. Click here to register for the conference.
NOTE: Staff and students of Victoria University of Wellington and other Member Universities of the Centre, as well as retired and unwaged, are welcome to attend without registering in this way. Instead they should confirm their attendance by contacting the Centre Administrator Ms Lai Ching Tan at [email protected] or 04 463 9549.
ATTENDANCE AT NZIIA ACTIVITIES
NZCFS Wellington Branch is an Institutional Member of the NZ Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA). As part of this, up to four members of NZCFS Wellington Branch are entitled to attend any events that NZIIA organizes, either as national events or Wellington branch events. Further, there are many events for which an RSVP is not required, so any number of NZCFS members may attend. The procedure for submitting an RSVP when required is for NZCFS members to contact the NZCFS Wellington branch secretary, who will collate the responses and then send a single RSVP to NZIIA. The first 4 such responses to the secretary will be submitted in the official RSVP. Note that in the past, it has been rare that more than 4 members wanted to attend using this mechanism.
We maintain an email list of those members who wish to be advised of new events as they are publicized by the NZIIA. If you wish to be added to this email list, please respond to [email protected] and request to be added to the NZIIA email notification list.
NZCFS CHINA ART TOUR OCTOBER 2014
This tour will appeal to artists as well as those who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through its artistic traditions –which will include painting, calligraphy, opera, architecture and traditional garden design.
China Arts Tour is a unique non-commercial tour that will start in Beijing and also visit the cities of Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou. It will also include iconic tourist sites: architecture –from the Great Wall to the iconic cantilevered CCTV building and Olympic Birds nest; in Shanghai state of the art international award-winning buildings, the Bund, old French quarter; the Terracotta Army in Xi’an; the classic gardens in Suzhou…..
For more information see nzchinasociety.org.nz/16098/nzcfs-china-arts-tour-october-2014/, which includes a form for registering interest and now includes a full itinerary.
